Flexible apertured panels



y 1967 M. J. RAQR 3,322,287

FLEXI BLE APERTURED PANELS Filed June 1, 1966 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 INVEAU'OR ylzgew/ jfga/ May 30, 1967 M. .J. RAGIR 3,322,287

FLEXI BLE APERTURED PANELS Filed June 1, 1966 2 Sheets-$heet 2 ATTORNEYS Patented May 30, 1967 United States Pate;

l 2 3 787 thereof, from the claims, and from the accompanying FLEXHBLE A PANELS draw ngs in which each and every detail shown 18 fully and Meyer J. Ragga, Highland Park, in. assigmrm ggifix, compietely disclosed as part of the specification, and n Inc a wwmmim f mass wh ch like reference numerals refer to like parts, and in Fiied June 1, 1966, See. No. 554,521 Whwh 4 Claims. {CL 211-87) FIGURE 1 is a plan view of a suitable panel according to the present invention showing a hook or hanging ele- This invention relates to flexible apertured panels ment in place and attached thereto; adapted for mounting on surfaces, and, more particularly, FIGURE 2 is an enlarged section of an embossment to strengthened panels having increased weight carrying taken along the lines 2-2 of FIGURE 1 showing one capabilities. embodiment for increasing the strength of such emboss- The use of apertured boards for supporting hooks and mom; other hanging elements designed to carry or display ar- FIGURE 3 is a sectional view showing a modification ticles is well known. One disadvantage of such structures, of the embodiment of FIGURE 2; however, is the rigidity and weight of the material in which FIGURE 4 is an enlarged plan view of one embossment the apertures are formed. These boards are usually used showing another configuration for increasing the rigidity in a fixed display stand or more commonly attached to a thereof; wall or other supporting surface. In affixing such boards FIGURE 5 is a sectional view taken along lines 5-5 to supporting surfaces, not only is it necessary to solidly of FIGURE 4; anchor the boards to the surface, but it is also usual to FIGURE 6 is a plan view showing a modification of provide for spacing between the supporting surface and th embodiment of FIGURE 5; the apertured board to allow the hooks or other elements FIGURE 7 i a e tional view taken along the line attached thereto to pass through the apertures and to lock '7-i of FIGURE 6; against the rear surface of the board. FIGURE 8 is a plan view of a flexible panel in which In Order to Overcome y of 31655 ages, it the rectangular embossments are formed in the panel; has been proposed to use thin flexible panels which may FIGURE 9 is a partial section of the panel taken along readily be attached to walls or other supporting surfaces the line 9 9 of FIGURE 8; such as by an adhesive. Such thin panels can be mounted FIGURE 10 is a plan view of another embodiment of around curved surfaces and otherwise conform o h the flexible panel in which the embossrnents are shown in shape of the surface on which they are mounted. These th shape f ifor flexible panels, which may C n y be ma of 8 FIGURE 11 is a sectional view of the cruciform panel thermo-plastic polymer film or thin sheet, usually have t k lon li e 11 11 of FIGURE 10; and formed therein raised embossments into which the hooks FIGURE 12 i a perspective i w of the cruciform emare inserted. Since one advantage of such panels is their bossment. light weight and their flexible properties, they have limited Referring to FIGURE 1 th i shown a fl ibl panel Weight carrying capabilities. 2%: in accordance with the present invention formed from The 1100148 or hanging elem'inis, which are altilched to a thin sheet of flexible material typically a suitable thermothe panels through apertures in the embossments, are usmastic polymen The panel 2a is pmvjlded with a mually Provided With Offset ends which 13353 through the rality of circular embossments 22 extending out from the apertures and bear against either the front or side walls of f m f 2,4 th eof, h of aid embo s ent having the embossments. Since it is desirable to be able to orient a li d i l id ortion 26 a d a front ortion 23. The the Panel in more than 0H6 direction, the Shapfi 0f the embossments 22 are formed from the flexible material and bossmellts is usuany symmatrical and convanilinfly y are integral with the panel 20. An aperture 39 is provided have a Circular p p yin the front portion 26 of each einbossnient 22 to accept In accordance with the present invention, there are a h k 32 to b tt h d to th panel 20,, provided means associated with each of the raised (ZI'F- Th h 1; 32 may b tt h d t th paned by first inbossments for increasing the rigidity of such embossments g one end 34 through aperture 30 in one b and increasing lbs? Weight Carrying Capabilities Of I116 meat 22 and then passing a stud formed on the hook fieXible p This additional length y be @fificiifid y through an aperture in an enibossment adjacent to the the provision of members formed integral with the emfi t ejmbgggrnent, Ty i ally, th end 34 of the hook 32 bossment or by altering the overall configuration of the will be off et at 36 from the main body 38 of the hook embossments themselves, whereby the strength of the en- 32 and when inserted through an aperture 30 of an emtire panel may be increased. bossment 532, extends laterally of the aperture within the In 8 Suitable COIIfigUIMiOH, the embOssmfintE m y confines of the side portions 26 of the embossment. Thus, conveniently be rectangular in shape in which the longer the embossment 22 is provided with sufficient space beedges of adjacent rectangles would be perpendicular to tween the aperture 3i) and the inner surface 39 of the side each other. In this way, it would still be possible to orient portions 26 to accommodate this offset hook end 34. the panel in'more than one position since the offset ends As noted above, one advantage of the flexible panels of the hooks would fit into one embossment in one direcis their ability to conform to the shape of the surface on tion and into the next adjacent embossment when rotated which they are mounted. Since, as explained above, the 90". If it is desirable to have more symmetrical embossembossments 22 extending out from the front face 24 of rnents, they may be formed as cruciforms rather than althe anel to allow for insertion of the hooks 32 therein, ternately arranged rectangles. it is possible to mount the panels on a support surface The flexible panel of the present invention not only reby attaching the rear face 40 directly to the surface withtains the desired characteristics of flexibility, light weight, out providing a space therebetween. Typically, adhesive convenience and easy application to a supporting surface, means 31 formed on the rear face 40 may be used to but provides such a flexible apertured panel with increased mount the panel 20 on the wall or support surface. strength and load carrying capabilities. The material from which the panel is formed is initially Numerous other advantages and features or" the present a thin material. As a result, the embossments 22 and the invention will become readily apparent from the following panel 243 have somewhat limited load carrying capabilidetailed description of the invention and one embodiment ties. In order to improve the panels characteristics, the

'3 e3 embossments 22 may be formed with an annular upstanding wall 42 defining the periphery 43 of the aperture 36 passing through the front portion 28 of the embossment 22 and oriented substantially normal to the front face 24 of the panel 29.

Not only does the upstanding annular wall 42 give more support to the end 34 of the hook 32 inserted through the aperture 30, but it may be modified to accommodate other type studs inserted therethrough such as those with enlarged end portions.

Referring to FIGURE 3, an annular upstanding wall 44 defining the periphery 43 of the aperture 38 is provided with a circumferential groove 45 which engages the enlarged end 46 of a hook or stud inserted through the aperture, thereby locking it in place.

As shown in FIGURES 4 and 5, the rigidity of the embossment also may be increased by forming radial rib-like members 48 internally of and integral with the embossment 3%. Such radial rib members 48 may extend completely across the inside of the front portion 28 of the embossment 30 between the annular upstanding wall 42 and the inside surface 39 of the side portion 26 of the embossment. Alternatively, as shown in FIGURES 6 and 7 the ribs 52 may be inclined and extend only partially across the front portion 28 of the embossment terminating at a point 54 intermediate the annular upstanding wall 42 and the side portion 26.

Alternatively, the strength of the panel may be increased by altering the shape of the embossments. As shown in FIGURES 8 and 9, the embossments 56 may be conveniently formed in the shape of rectangles having the apertures 30 passing through the front portion thereof. Since each rectangular embossment 56 allows for insertion of the offset hook ends 36 only in one direction, the longer sides 58 of adjacent embossments 56 are disposed perpendicular to each other. This arrangement allows for increased flexibility in mounting the panel on a supporting surface by allowing the hooks 32 to be attached to the panel 20 in two different positions.

The advantage of such rectangular embossments 56 arises from the fact that this shape provides greater strength than does a circular embossment and, therefore, the load carrying capabilities of the panel 20 are increased. If it is desirable to maintain more universally shaped embossments, they may be formed as cruciforms 60, thereby allowing insertion of the offset hook ends 36 in either of two positions, which embossments 66 also provide increased load carrying capabilities. As illustrated in FIGURES 9 and 11, the embossments of the alternative configurations may also be formed with an upstanding annular wall 42 defining the periphery 39 of the aperture 30.

The modified embossments 56, 60 provide an additional advantage when they are formed by vacuum molding. In vacuum molding, the embossments are formed by stretching the thin flexible material of the panel 20. The material is stretched less in forming the rectangular embossments 50 and the cruciform embossments 68 than in forming the circular embossments 22. Since, therefore, the Walls of the modified embossments are thicker, the load carrying capabilities of the panel are further increased when formed in this manner. The amount of stretching may be further reduced by forming the modified emboss- (j, ments with curved surfaces 62 rather than with distinct top and side portions.

The hooks described hereinabove in combination with the panel of the present invention are only examples of the many hanging elements available for use with such panels. It should be understood that such hooks form no part of the present invention, and any suitable hanging elements may be utilized.

It will be readily observed from the foregoing detailed description of the invention and the illustrated embodiments thereof that numerous variations and modifications may be effected wtihout departing from the true spirit and scope of the novel concepts and principles of this invention.

What is claimed is:

1. A flexible apcrtured panel adapted for mounting on a surface and designed to support articles on hook elements attached thereto, said panel being formed from a thin sheet of flexible material having front and rear faces whereby said panel is adapted to conform to the shape of a surface on which it is mounted, and adhesive means provided on said rear face for mounting said panel on a surface, said panel defining a plurality of raised spaced apart hollow rectilinear embossments arranged in rows and columns and projecting out from said front face, the edges defining the longer sides of any one such embossment being perpendicular to edges defining the longer sides of next adjacent embossments in the row and column in which said one embossment is located.

2. A flexible apertured panel in accordance with claim 1 in which pairs of said rectilinear raised hollow embossments intersect to form cruciforms.

3. A flexible apertured panel in accordance with claim it in which each of said embossments has a front portion spaced from said front face and an aperture extending thercthrough, and an upstanding annular wall formed in: tegrally with each said embossment extending out from the front portion thereof substantially normal to said front face to define the periphery of said aperture.

4. A flexible apertured panel in accordance with claim 2 including an upstanding annular wall formed integrally with each embossment and extending out from the front portion thereof substantially normal to said front face to define the periphery of said aperture, a side portion of each embossment intermediate said front portion and said front face, and in which said internally formed means are integral strengthening members extending radially between said upstanding annular wall and said side portion.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,790,616 4/1957 Cardinal 248-217 2,799,910 7/1957 \Neber 24-216 2,942,364 6/ 1960 Horton 40-63 2,980,381 4/1961 Dectrow et al. 248-223 2,986,396 5/1961 Abbott et al. 273- 3,038,688 6/1962 Thorburn 248-44 3,067,536 12/1962 Brittsan 40-135 3,089,269 5/1963 McKierman 40-143 3,187,902 6/1965 Nelson 211- 3,191,777 6/1965 Willit-s 211-87 3,193,231 7/ 1965 Curry 248-223 CLAUDE A. LEROY, Primary Examiner. 

1. A FLEXIBLE APERTURED PANEL ADAPTED FOR MOUNTING ON A SURFACE AND DESIGNED TO SUPPORT ARTICLES ON HOOK ELEMENTS ATTACHED THERETO, SAID PANEL BEING FORMED FROM A THIN SHEET OF FLEXIBLE MATERIAL HAVING FRONT AND REAR FACES WHEREBY SAID PANEL IS ADAPTED TO CONFORM TO THE SHAPE OF A SURFACE OF WHICH IT IS MOUNTED, AND ADHESIVE MEANS PROVIDED ON SAID REAR FACE FOR MOUTTING SAID PANEL ON A SURFACE, SAID PANEL DEFINING A PLURALITY OF RAISED SPACED APART HOLLOW RECTILINEAR EMBOSSMENTS ARRANGED IN ROWS AND COLUMNS AND PROJECTING OUT FROM SAID FRONT FACE. THE EDGES DEFINING THE LONGER SIDES OF ANY OF SUCH EMBOSSMENT BEING PERPENDICULAR TO EDGES DEFINING THE LONGER SIDES OF NEXT ADJACENT EMBOSSMENTS IN THE ROW AND COLUMN IN WHICH SAID ONE EMBOSSMENT IS LOCATED. 